WIXLIB

The Catholic Mirror October 19, 2018www.dmdiocese.orgRespect Life MonthFoster care is a fulfillingand necessary ministryLife Chain goes on despite rainPaulette and Fernando ValdezBy Kelly Mescher CollinsStaff WriterPaulette Valdez of St.Pius X Parish in Urbandale canstill remember the first time sheconsidered becoming a foster parent.She was working as anurse in a pediatrician’s office.“I saw a lady coming inwith her children and she was always coming in with a newbornbaby way too often,” Valdez said.Finally Valdez asked thewoman, who told her about fostercare for newborns.Even though she alreadyhad a few small children at homethere was – and still is – a realneed for more foster parents. Inmany cases, the children are removed from drug addicted parents at the hospital and placedwith foster parents, Valdez said.“[Bringing a baby home]was just like Christmas,” Valdez said. “[I would tell the kids]‘We’re getting a baby today,’ andthey would just be jumping upand down.”Valdez has been fostering newborn babies for nearly 27years and is currently caring forher 59th baby. She works with theDepartment of Human Servicesand Bethany Christian Services.“I enjoy taking careof them so much and this was agreat opportunity,” Valdez said. “Ihopefully help these babies in thatbridge period and interim period,whether it’s back with their birthfamilies or to the adopting families.”She also credits her husband Fernando for keeping thehouse clean, cooking the mealsand doing laundry while Valdezcares for the baby.Leah Garland, executivebrand director of Bethany Christian Services in Des Moines, hashigh praise for Valdez.“She is just so givingand sacrificing so much of hertime to [help these kids] have abetter start to their lives,” Garland said. “She is so selfless andfull of God’s love. It’s amazing tosee how she loves all parties involved.”Many of the newbornsValdez has cared for are adoptedinto a new home, since their biological parents are often unable toovercome drug addictions.It’s a critical period ofthe baby’s life, so that attentionand care is important, Valdez added. When babies are neglected ornot properly cared for in their firstmonths and years of life, they often encounter lots of major obstacles in life all the way into adulthood.Valdez encourages others to consider foster care, as theneed is very great.Even though Valdez ison the list for only infants, she hasreceived calls from the state seeking placement for teenagers.“When they call me thatmeans they have already calledeveryone else,” Valdez said.If a foster family cannotbe identified for a teen, he or shespends the night at a homelessshelter because there is nowhereelse for him or her to stay, Valdezsaid.Matt Highland, publicinformation officer for the Department of Human Services,said “shelter stays are consideredplacements of last resort in temporary, emergency situations.”“When a child is removed from their home andplaced in foster care, reunification is always the goal,” Highlandsaid. “Through foster care children are kept safe while their family works to remedy the concernsthat caused removal. On averagethere are 6,000 children in out-ofhome care. Sixty-one percent arereunited with their parent, 23 percent are adopted by a relative ortheir foster parent and eight percent age out of care.“It continues to be achallenge finding enough fosterparents to ensure children arematched to a family that can bestmeet their needs ,” Highlandsaid. “Many foster parents findthe role so rewarding that as theirfoster children return home, theyopen up their homes again andagain to new foster children.”Valdez often encounterswomen who say they couldn’t bea foster parent because it wouldbe too hard to let the baby or childgo. But Valdez said she’s neverfound that to be the case.“My goal from the daythe baby arrives is to leave it withthe best possible family,” Valdezsaid. “I don’t want it to stay longbecause the more the baby attaches to you the [more difficult thetransition].”If you or someone youknow is interested in becoming afoster parent with the state, visitiowafosterandadoption.org/.For those interested inbecoming afoster familywith Bethany Christian Services,call 515-270-0824.3Photo submitted by Ruth KibitzkiPhoto submitted by Karen QuinerTop: Cathy Soukup and Father David Fleming, pastor of St. Pius X Parish inUrbandale, are joined by Father Fleming’s dog, Snoopy, in braving the rain toparticipate in the Life Chain on Sunday, Oct. 7. Bottom: A crowd gathers at St.Theresa Church in Des Moines for Life ChainYou are invited to theSt. Luke the Evangelist Catholic SchoolOpen HouseSunday, November 11, 201811:30 am - 1:00 pm1102 NW WEIGEL DRIVEANKENY, IA 50023Meet the Teachers & StaffTour the ClassroomsMeet Current FamiliesView Uniform ExamplesAdmissions Information*Enrolling for K-7 for the2019-2020 School Yearven We SerWe LearWe Pray Feel free to join us for astudent-led Mass at 10:30 ambefore the Open House!Want to visit with our Principal one-on-one? While visiting ourOpen House, book an appointment to meet with her individually.*Financial aid is available

4OpinionHelp! I’ve been hacked!When considering all theprotection plans that we invest inthroughout our lives, we make sure thatour technology and virtual reputation aswell as our physical property are secure.How often are we looking toprotect our spiritual lives and souls fromthe very hackers that corrupt us?We build firewalls and installantivirus systems to secure our technologyfrom viruses and hackers. We are tryingto preserve precious pictures and protectimportant life and business informationwhile we are also trying to create peace ofmind.Oh, the lengths to which we willgo searching for this virtual peace.If there has been external invasionof our property, we might have a thiefpreying upon us. What a violation it is tobe burglarized!About 15 years ago, while ona family vacation, our car got, you couldsay, hacked into. We had all our souvenirs,luggage, music, and videos stolen andwindows broken. While, for the youngestkids, the most valuable things stolen mayhave been their favorite Disney videos,the teens lost their newly purchased traveltreasures. For my wife, peace was violated,Let’s Get PsychedBy DeaconRandy Kieland for me as the family protector, oursecurity was breeched.Sin also has a viral effect uponus as well as upon the world. We are allsubject to internal and external corruptionattempting to hack into our souls.Are we protected?We have been encouraged tochange computer passwords ad nauseam,so what shall we do to protect our spirituallife?First, we must know our systemwell. Here are several questions to askourselves.How is my spiritual life definedby me and by the Church?How have I left myself vulnerableto viral attacks of evil?Do I allow others to help protectme and do I protect myself?If I was to have a spiritual auditdone on my life, how would I score?Second, let’s take a look at howwe leave ourselves most vulnerable toevil. We can use the seven deadly sinsas indicators of risk of corruption on oursouls. (Note: They are called deadly for areason, folks.)1. Pride – vanity and ego2. Envy – jealousy and spite3. Gluttony – indulgence and entitlement4. Lust – stealing and inappropriatedesires5. Anger – meanness and rage6. Greed – selfishness, and wrongfulattachments7. Slothfulness – laziness and apathyAllowing any of these seven areasto hack into your soul or system, leaves theopportunity for injury to your spirit andpossibly even spiritual death.Hackers, in regards to yourcomputer, your car, or your heart, are indisguise or often invisible. 1 Peter 5:8 says,“Your enemy, the devil, prowls aroundlike a roaring lion looking for someone todevour.”Do not let that be you.Quite often people ask me whatare the common portal entries for these sinsto enter into our lives. While the list is vast,there are some common themes, includingthe lack of sacramental living, historicalwounds and relational injuries, unresolvedconflicts, hurt feelings, spiritual neglect,spiritual ignorance, and spiritual abuse.When faced with these injuries,we need assistance from the Body ofChrist. We cannot heal these wounds or“ports of entry” on our own and therefore,have a difficult time securing our systemfrom further corruption.Through further understanding ofour spiritual system and its vulnerabilities,we can close many doors that might still bewide open.Continue searching for even theslightest cracks in the doorways to oursouls. It is not the light of Christ that comesin through those cracks; it is darkness,and we know where and from whom thedarkness comes.Deacon Randy Kiel is the founder ofKardia Counseling. He serves Holy TrinityParish in Des Moines. To contact him,email randy@kardiacounseling.com.Called to Faithful CitizenshipThe Iowa Catholic Conferencerecently released an excellent letter,“Faithful Citizenship for Iowa Catholics.”As a person who has been actively involvedin the Des Moines area community,including the political arena for more than50 years, I would like to share my additionalthoughts about faithful citizenship.Much of my perspective stemsfrom the incredible example and guidancefrom my mother and father that I receivedgrowing up in Waverly, Iowa. Here are sixways I believe we are called to provide afoundation pursing faithful citizenship inour daily lives.1. Called to a vocation. Your daily workshould be your primary focus for serving others. Use your talents and giftsto do the best job you can.Guest ColumnByMichael Carver2. Called to love and support your entire family. There is no question thatthis is one of your most important responsibilities. In this role, you set anexample of what faithful citizenshipshould be demonstrated in your dailylife – just as my parents did for meyears ago.3. Called to community service. Each ofus should also seek opportunities tovolunteer in our community, with aspecial focus on the needs of the poorand disadvantaged.4. Called to be active in the political arena. Voting is not the only way to be involved. An important aspect of any political involvement is to keep yourselfinformed by reading the daily newspaper and watching the news broadcasts.Personally, I made the decision morethan 10 years ago to run for a seat onthe Urbandale City Council.5. Called to be faithful to nurture yourChristian faith. This includes regularlyattending Mass, daily prayers and supporting activities sponsored by yourparish.6. Called to be a good steward of yourfinancial resources. This includes howyou manage your personal financial resources, as well as decisions you maketo give funds to your church and otherworthy community and national philanthropic organizations that serve theneeds of the community.These points illustrate my strongsupport of the need for faithful citizenship.Thanks to the Iowa bishops for sharingtheir important letter.To read “Faithful Citizenship” goto iowacatholicconference.org.Michael Carver is a parishioner of St. PiusX Parish in Urbandale.Carrying forward pope’s love of the landI can still hear the pope’s messageto our faith community each time I enterthose gates at St. Patrick Church at IrishSettlement.“Proclaim Christ and his Gospelin fellowship and apostolic faith, in prayerand in the celebration of the Eucharist.”As I passed through the gate thisday they were beautifully decorated withfall all around by the ladies of the parish.The weather this day was much like Oct.4, 1979, the day St. John Paul II visitedSt. Patrick Parish in Irish Settlement andcelebrated Mass at Living History Farmsin Urbandale. Although today, therewas added rain along with the chill, butthankfully little wind.I arrived early and sat in reflectionof where the parishioners are today: Somehave passed; many are now grandparentsand great grandparents; and the toddlers,well, now they are approaching middleage.The prayer service opens andBishop Richard Pates reminds us of St.John Paul ll’s message, and that the pope’svisit to Iowa was made possible by asimple gesture, a letter, that was writtenby Joe Hays 39-plus years ago. Today, theGuest ColumnBy Jan Lyondedication of a statue of St. John Paul II,in remembrance of John Connor, was madepossible by the generosity of the late Randyand Jo Snyder and the Mulvihill family.Bishop Pates asks that wecontinue to carry forward St. John PaulII’s love of the land, our God’s abundantgraces of which we are given by caring forthe land and each other.Our doors are always open toall as we continue to grow as a parishcommunity with future plans that include aSt. John Paul ll Retreat Center and grotto.Special thanks to Bishop Pates,Father Thomas Dooley and Father DanKirby for making our dedication daymemorable, despite the rain and gloomyweather.Jan Lyon is a parishioner of St. PatrickChurch at Irish Settlement.Photo submitted by Jan LyonOn Oct. 8 Bishop Richard Pates blessed a new statue of St. John Paul II,created in memory of farmer John Connor, on whose land the pope’s helicopter landed during a visit to St. Patrick Church at Irish Settlement.

5Ask a PriestQ. From my days as an altarserver many years ago, I remember we were taught toring the bells at several pointsduring the Mass. We no longeruse the bells. Could you bringme up to date on that question?A.  Ah yes, the bells.  Well,some history might be helpful.  When the Mass was celebrated in Latin, many of thefaithful prayed the rosary orsome other devotional prayers.The priest faced away from thepeople and prayed the Canonor Eucharistic Prayer in a verylow voice, almost silently.  Sothe bell, at one point in history, served to alert the ordinaryparishioner that an importantpart of the Mass was about tohappen.But that’s all changed.Today, the Churchasks all the participants atMass to engage in “full, conscious, and active participation.  The Church prays theMass together, priests, deacons, ministers, musicians, andthe faithful.  Since the Massis now celebrated in Englishand the priest speaks in a loudenough voice for the people tohear, they no longer need thebell to focus their attention.Q. My sister-in-law asked mea question about the Lord’sPrayer. Why does her version(Protestant) end with “Forthyne is the kingdom and thepower” etc. etc. I need an answer for her. Thank you, Father. I always read your column.- Paulina in CrestonA. The early manuscripts(handwritten texts) of Matthew’s gospel have variations.  The translation of theBible that you mention comesfrom the King James Version(KJV).  That translation usesa manuscript that includes thewords you quote.The New AmericanBible (NAB) Revised Edition,and the New Revised StandardVersion (NRSV) use a manuscript that does not includeyour sister-in-law’s concludingline. During Mass, the currentRoman Missal uses the Lord’sPrayer from the New AmericanBible.  Nonetheless, after thepriest prays, “Deliver us, Lord,we pray, from every evil . . . aswe await the blessed hope andthe coming of our Savior JesusChrist,” the people continue,“For the Kingdom, the power,and the glory are yours, nowand forever.”All Souls Day Mass&First FridayPray with us.Q. I’m interested in learningmore about a robe called thealb.A.  The alb is a vestment that any baptized person may wear.  It is white oroff-white.  The Latin wordfor “white” is “album.”  Altar servers often wear a robeor alb when they assist atMass.  When adults are baptized, they often wear a whiterobe.  Even babies are dressedin white at the time of baptism.  The symbolism suggeststhat people are “putting onChrist.”  A priest wears a stoleover the alb; a deacon, overthe alb, wears a stole on theleft shoulder; a bishop wearsa pectoral cross in addition tothe stole.Got a question for “Ask aPriest” and its author, FatherJohn Ludwig? Send it to communications@dmdiocese.orgor The Catholic Mirror, 601Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA50309.Missouri ValleyNatural Family PlanningJoin us for the final 2 nights of a 4 partseries where we’ll explore howNatural Family Planning conforms ourhearts to love, in health, carrying crossesand receiving gifts! We’ll be gathering onNovember 8th, and November 15th from6:30-8 PM. Speakers are Jim and LindaDaskiewicz and Rebekah Knobeloch. Thesepresentations are open to all, and childcareis available with RSVP. Join us for one orboth presentations at St. Patrick’s Parish,215 N 7th St, Missouri Valley, IA 51555.Contact Deacon Michael Carney for moreinformation and childcare reservations at712-310-2921Friday, November 2, 201812:00 Noon & 7:00 p.m.In memoryof thosewho havegone beforeus, theBasilicaof St. Johninvites youto join usin prayingtheheavenlyliturgyfor theHoly Souls1915 University Ave., DSM 515-244-3101Bishop Drummearns accreditationfrom The JointCommissionDemonstrating continuouscompliance with its performancestandards, Bishop Drumm has earnedThe Joint Commission’s Gold Seal ofApproval for Nursing Care CenterAccreditation and Certification inPost-Acute Care.Accreditation by The Joint Commissionis a voluntary process that is above andbeyond what is required by federal and statemandates, and demonstrates Bishop Drumm’scommitment to the highest level of care.Offering a continuum of care that includesindependent living, assisted living, skilled nursingand rehabilitation services, Bishop Drumm makesevery person feel that home is here. To learnmore, call 515.270.1100 or visit homeishere.org.Bishop DrummThe Gold Seal ofApproval is asymbol of qualitythat reflectscommitment toproviding safe andeffective patientand resident care.5837 Winwood DriveJohnston, Iowa 50131515.270.1100homeishere.org

6The Catholic Mirror October 19, 2018Oct 19, Nov. 2, 9 & 16 FridayFish & Chicken DinnersINDIANOLA–TheIndianola Knights of Columbus willhost its annual Fall Fish & ChickenDinners at the St. Thomas AquinasParish Hall from 5:30 - 7 p.m. 10/adults (13 & over) & carry-outs, 5/children (6 to 12), free/children 5 &under.Oct. 21   SundayBazaarATLANTIC – Ss Peter& Paul Parish is having its annualbazaar which includes roast beefdinner served from 11 a.m.-1p.m. at the parish. 10/adults, 5/children 6-11, free/children age 5and under. Bake sale, sewing circlesales, quilt chances & general store.Oct. 23 TuesdayCatholic Widows and WidowersWEST DES MOINES-- Business meeting and Halloweenparty at 2 p.m. at Sacred HeartChurch. Come in costume if you like,pizza and drinks provided. For moreinformation contact Judy LaRonde at515-988-7791.St. MaryParish inHamburgreceives grantSt. Mary Parish inHamburg received a grant of 300 from Oregon CatholicPress, known as OCP.“It is our sincere hopethat this grant will help St. Mary’sChurch meet the needs they soclearly presented in their grantapplication, as well as supporttheir efforts to enhance theircommunity’s liturgy and music,”wrote Wade Wisler, publisher, ina note to Bishop Richard Patesabout the award.The small rural parishin far southwest Iowa servesparishioners from three states:Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska.It plans to use the grant to buythree one-cycle lectionaries andBreaking Bread hymn books.St. Mary Parish wasamong more than 700 applicants,97 of which received an awardmeant to support liturgy andmusic at the parish level, saidCarol Percin, executive assistantat OCP. For some parishes, thatmight mean getting supplies, forothers it might mean starting anew Hispanic choir.“Every year, we receivethe applications and we havea committee review them. Thenumber of grants we are able togive each year varies dependingon the needs and how much isgiven to each parish,” Percinsaid.www.dmdiocese.orgAround the dioceseOct. 28SundayStaley’s Chicken DinnerSTUART – All SaintsParish is hosting its annual Staley’schicken dinner from 10:30 a.m. – 1p.m. Cost is 10/adults, 4/childrenages 6-12; free/children age 5 andunder. Carryout is available bycalling the parish at 515-523-1943.Nov. 2 FridayNov. 4 SundayCraft and baked good auctionIRISH SETTLEMENT –St. Patrick Parish is having a craft andbaked good auction at 1 p.m. at 20183396 155th St. in Cumming to benefitthose in need during the holidayseason. Refreshments provided.Nov. 11 SundayCatholic Widows and WidowersDES MOINES -- FirstFriday Mass at Christ the KingChurch at 8:40 a.m. Breakfast atPerkins, on McKinley Avenue, afterMass. For more information contactJudy LaRonde at 515-988-7791.Fall Dinner & Bake SaleAVOCA – St. Mary Parishis having its fall dinner and bakesale from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. withStaley’s chicken. Cost is 10/adultsand 5/children ages 10 and under.There is an elevator available. Call incarry-out orders to 712-343-6948.Nov. 3-4 Saturday-SundayNov. 13 TuesdayCraft ShowDES MOINES – Christthe King Altar and Rosary Societyannual craft show will be held onNo

*Financial aid is available We Pray We Learn We Serve 1102 NW WEIGEL DRIVE ANKENY, IA 50023 Meet the Teachers & Staff Tour the Classrooms Meet Current Families View Uniform Examples Admissions Information* Enrolling for K-7 for the 2019-2020 School Year Feel free to join us for a student-led Mass at 10:30 am before the Open House!